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A-Rod cleared for baseball activities

Alex Rodriguez underwent hip surgery in January then was listed in the Biogenesis report and should be recovering from surgery until July

By Bryan Hoch
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MLB.com |

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez has been cleared to begin baseball activities, and the three-time American League MVP Award winner said he is "really excited" to join the star-studded assortment of rehabbing players at the Yankees' Florida training complex next week.

General manager Brian Cashman said that Rodriguez has resumed "full-bore running" and is scheduled to travel Monday to Tampa, Fla., where the team is outlining the next phases of his rehab protocol.

Cashman said that the Yankees' expectation is that Rodriguez will be able to rejoin the big league team sometime after the All-Star break as he recovers from left hip surgery, which was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York back in January.

"Every conversation we've had with the physical therapist is that he's exactly where he needs to be," Cashman said on Thursday. "He's on time, he's working hard. I've never heard anything about he's ahead of schedule or ahead of time."

Rodriguez announced the development on his official Facebook page, posting a photo caption that read, "Just met with my surgeon Dr. Kelly in South Florida and got cleared to move to baseball activities in Tampa...really excited to be getting closer to being back on the field."

With Rodriguez's expected arrival, the Yanks will be focusing a great deal of attention on their spring home, as outfielder Curtis Granderson has moved into extended spring games in his recovery from a fractured right forearm and could be promoted to the big league club within two weeks.

Cashman said that first baseman Mark Teixeira is set to report to Tampa at the end of the club's current homestand, having successfully tested the partially torn tendon sheath in his right wrist by taking indoor batting practice on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Teixeira has hoped to return to the big leagues in May, but manager Joe Girardi hinted this week that June could be more likely.

"We're getting ready to hit the extended spring program with some championship-caliber rings here," Cashman said.

In other updates, Cashman reported that right-hander Michael Pineda (labrum surgery) was sitting at 93 mph and touched 95 mph with his fastball during an extended spring outing on Thursday.

Somewhat further behind is Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who is also shooting to join the club after the All-Star break following a setback with his surgically repaired left ankle.

Cashman said that Jeter is in a removable boot and has been able to ride a stationary bicycle as well as swimming exercises, laser therapy and hydro therapy.

"There's a number of different exercises [Jeter] can do," Cashman said. "He can take that boot off and do some things. Although he's in a boot anywhere from four to six to eight weeks depending on the healing process, how well it's going, he can go back and do some of the exercise and things necessary to keep other aspects of the ankle strong. But that's all he's doing."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.